Broadband network test system and method
First Claim
1. A test apparatus for a CATV transmission system having a headend and a broadband network serving a plurality of nodes, the network capable of transmitting signals downstream from the headend to the nodes and transmitting signals upstream from the nodes towards the headend, the headend having a plurality of modulators, each modulator associated with a respective channel transmitted through the network, the test system comprising:
- means for manually inputting test commands and injecting signals representing the commands into the network for upstream transmission through the network from a node;
a control apparatus operatively coupled between the headend and the network to control the headend in response to the test commands, the control apparatus comprising;
(a) a plurality of channel controllers, each controller operatively coupled to a respective modulator for controlling the modulator in response to test commands received by the controller;
(b) a signal processor coupled to the channel controllers for processing data representing the test commands and transmitting signals representing test commands for the appropriate channel controllers that will carry out the commands; and
(c) means for extracting the signals transmitted upstream through the network and transmitting data representing the signals to the signal processor;
whereby a field technician can selectively control channels from a node during testing without the assistance of a second technician at the headend.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A test system for a CATV transmission system having a headend and a broadband network serving a plurality of nodes enables testing by a field technician without the need for a second technician at the headend. The field technician transmits test commands through the network to a controller connected to the headed that automatically turns on or off individually selectable cable channels in response to the commands.
23 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A test apparatus for a CATV transmission system having a headend and a broadband network serving a plurality of nodes, the network capable of transmitting signals downstream from the headend to the nodes and transmitting signals upstream from the nodes towards the headend, the headend having a plurality of modulators, each modulator associated with a respective channel transmitted through the network, the test system comprising:
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means for manually inputting test commands and injecting signals representing the commands into the network for upstream transmission through the network from a node;
a control apparatus operatively coupled between the headend and the network to control the headend in response to the test commands, the control apparatus comprising;
(a) a plurality of channel controllers, each controller operatively coupled to a respective modulator for controlling the modulator in response to test commands received by the controller;
(b) a signal processor coupled to the channel controllers for processing data representing the test commands and transmitting signals representing test commands for the appropriate channel controllers that will carry out the commands; and
(c) means for extracting the signals transmitted upstream through the network and transmitting data representing the signals to the signal processor;
whereby a field technician can selectively control channels from a node during testing without the assistance of a second technician at the headend. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A test system for a CATV transmission system having a headend and a broadband network serving a plurality of nodes, the headend receiving source channels and supplying a signal to the network for transmitting the channels through the broadband network to the nodes, the test system comprising:
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a control apparatus operatively coupled to the headend for controlling a plurality of channels in response to test commands, and means for transmitting signals representing the test commands from a node to the control apparatus;
the control apparatus comprising;
(a) a plurality of channel controllers, each channel controller associated with a respective channel and operatively inserted into a channel path of the channel through the headend for selectively controlling the channel output from the headend during testing; and
(b) means for receiving the transmitted signals and issuing commands represented by the signals to the controllers that will carry out the commands;
whereby a field technician can selectively control the headend output of each of the plurality of channels for channel testing at a node without a second technician at the headend. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of testing a CATV transmission system having a headend and a broadband network serving a plurality of nodes, the headend receiving source channels and supplying a signal to the network for transmitting the channels through the broadband network to the nodes, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) transmitting signals representing test commands from the node to a control apparatus operatively connected to the headend;
(b) processing the signals at the controller for controlling a plurality of channel controllers in response to the test commands, each channel controller associated with a respective channel for selectively controlling the channel output from the headend; and
(c) activating at least one controller for controlling the channel output of the channel associated with each activated controller; and
(d) testing a channel while the controller associated with such channel is activated. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification